Key facts
- Milestone
- Over 30 years at Farmers Centre 1978, Lake Grace
- Role
- Parts manager (started as parts interpreter)
- Childhood
- Moved from town to town for first 16 years in Western Australia
- Previous job
- Labourer at timber mill in Busselton for 2.5 years
- Learning method
- Studied part books at home and helped in mechanic workshop
- Observation
- Farm consolidation: what used to be four farms is now one
Background
Laurence Bourne, parts manager at Farmers Centre 1978 in Lake Grace, has achieved a rare milestone of over 30 years with the dealership. This steadiness contrasts sharply with his childhood, which was marked by constant movement.
His parents divorced when he was very young, and his mother remarried soon after. For the first 16 years of his life, his family moved from town to town across Western Australia, leaving little opportunity to establish lasting friendships at school.
Unlike many of his peers, Mr Bourne did not grow up in agriculture. His father was a mechanic who worked on farms, so farms were places where he spent much of his youth, but he does not consider himself to have a background in ag.
Current situation
In the early 1990s, Mr Bourne worked as a labourer at a timber mill in Busselton for two-and-a-half years, a period he described as 'swelling, brutal monotony'. A slumping housing market forced him to take a holiday to Lake Grace, where his father had settled as a mechanic at Farmers Centre 1978.
During that holiday, he did some raking for a farmer, who asked if he was interested in coming back for seeding. His father also offered him a job as a parts interpreter. He decided to 'give it a crack' and has been at the dealership ever since.
It took him about three years to get a good grasp on the job. He learned by taking part books home, studying them in his free time, and spending time in the mechanic workshop, where he learned from the mechanics despite initially annoying them.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Years at dealership | Over 30 |
| Time at timber mill | 2.5 years |
| Time to grasp job | About 3 years |
| Farm consolidation | 4 farms to 1 |
Impacts
Mr Bourne notes that technology in farming machinery has evolved significantly over his three decades. He recalls going from 'basic simple headers' to modern machines like the AF10s, with new developments appearing almost daily.
He has also observed changes in the farming community. In a low rainfall area, farmers have become better at making a lot with little. However, he has seen many farmers leave over 30 years, with what used to be four farms now being one, shrinking the customer base.
Despite these changes, Mr Bourne's position at Farmers Centre is likely to remain stable. He jokes that he keeps threatening to leave but does not think he ever will, saying he will be a 'mummified corpse at my desk' before he goes.
Future outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
If technology continues to advance at its current pace, Mr Bourne may need to keep learning new systems, but he acknowledges that 'you never stop learning with this job'. The machine basics remain, but added features have changed the role significantly.
If the trend of farm consolidation continues, the customer base may keep shrinking, which could affect the dealership's business. However, Mr Bourne's long tenure suggests he may adapt as he has done for over 30 years.
Should Mr Bourne eventually retire, the dealership would lose a wealth of experience, but his current statements indicate he has no immediate plans to leave. The future remains uncertain, but his commitment appears strong.
Source: farmweekly.com.au
खबर को बेहतर समझें
आंकड़े, तुलना और घटनाक्रम—एक ही जगह, बिना अनुमान के
Timeline of Laurence Bourne's journey
- 01
Moved to Lake Grace
Came for a holiday, did raking, and was offered a job as parts interpreter.
- 02
Over 30 years milestone
Achieved over 30 years with the dealership.
स्रोत:Based on the article from farmweekly.com.au. स्रोत-समर्थित
